Thursday, June 10, 2010

Review: Between Brothers by Lauren Gallagher

There is no way people would go to the lengths they do to get sex if it was really this bad.

That’s what Marisa is thinking after yet another frustrating night. She doesn’t want a relationship. She doesn’t want love, at least not right now. What she does want is some of the hot sex that everyone else raves about…and she doesn’t know where to start.

Enter Darren Knight, Marisa’s best friend and longtime crush. Offering a casual sexual apprenticeship, he helps Marisa gain the confidence to ask for and get what she wants. A sizzling new world opens up for her, including BDSM, stripteases – and Darren’s sexy brother, Eric.

But can she take her newfound confidence to the next level and live out her ultimate fantasy?

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, when I started reading, but immediately was pleasantly surprised. Lauren Gallager’s writing flowed easily through my mind, taking me along, from one scene to another effortlessly.

Between Brothers is erotica and not romance or erotic romance. The main character, Marisa, while resolved as to her ability to enjoy sex, did not become romantically involved with any of her partners (although, she could have - there were some feelings, but subjugated for her sexual freedom).

Ms. Gallagher creates memorable characters, especially in Marisa, the sexually repressed woman wanting more from the bedroom. Marisa and the two brothers, Darren and Eric are fully realized characters, the rest bolster the story, but are there only in supporting roles.

In most all books, there has to be a beginning, middle and an end, as well as some character arc. Between Brothers does have these elements, mainly from Marisa, who goes from sexually repressed to… well, you’ll have to read it to find out, but she does change.

Between Brothers is erotica and the story flows from one sex session to another, using Marisa to narrate in first person-it’s all told from her point of view. As such and, as this book is about her sexual awakening, most of the book recounts her sessions, in explicit detail, with little other material to get in the way of the erotica.

A couple of items I look for upon reading a book is whether I’d be inclined to read other books written by Ms. Gallagher and did I enjoy reading this adventure (yes, it’s an adventure). I have no doubt I would seek other works by her and I thought reading Between Brothers is a good fun read.